Organic Valley Family of Farms recently recognized 396 of its farmer-owners, nearly 24 percent of its total members, with quality awards.
Organic Valley dairy, produce, soy, egg, juice and feed crop farmers and Organic Prairie beef, poultry and pork farmers were recognized for 2009 quality achievements during an awards banquet at the cooperative’s annual meeting. Organic Valley honored its dairy farmers in Gold, Silver and Milk Quality Recognition categories. To achieve these honors, Gold Award recipients needed an average Somatic Cell Count (SCC) of less than 150,000; Silver Award recipients an average SCC between 151,000 and 200,000; and Milk Quality Recognition recipients an average SCC between 201,000 and 250,000. In addition, all levels had to achieve a Standard Plate Count average below 25 and a Preliminary Incubation Count averaging less than 30. All of the gold and silver winners received a plaque and the quality recognition winners received certificates for their accomplishments.
The following farmers received the top milk quality Gold Award, the “Cream of the CROPP,” in each region:
• Eastern Region: Meyer Family, North Hardwick Dairy LLC, Hardwick, Vermont
• Midwest Region: Kevin and Mary Jahnke, Jahnke Family Farm Limited Partnership, Lancaster, Wisconsin
• Western Region: Greg and Marci Bingham, Bingham Farms, Weston, Idaho
Farmers, by state, receiving Organic Valley’s Gold Dairy Quality Awards for 2009:
California
Bill and Michelle Van Ryn, Gawne Organic Dairy, Stockton
Idaho
Greg and Marci Bingham, Weston
Kyle and Marie Knapp, H&S Dairy, Inc., Preston
Iowa
Monroe and Lydia Ann Herschberger, Bloomfield
Indiana
Roger and Lisa Garland, Vevay
Mervin Hochstetler, LaGrange
Alvin Shrock, Middlebury
Harley Shrock, Topeka
Kentucky
James Huber, Mount Hermon
Maine
Steve Morrison, Charleston
William and Sandra Osborne, Farmington
Lewis and Loretta Nuite, Atikinson
Paul and Michele Philbrick, Knox
Garin and Sarah Smith, Skowhegan
New Hampshire
John and Beth Haynes, Claremont
Kathy Harrington, Stonewall Farm, Keene
New York
Steven Bartlett, Earlville
Cliff and Patti Brunner, Sunny Slope Farm, Cooperstown
Richard and Lisa Bruno, Twin Farms, Cazenovia
Kevin Fuess, O’Riskany Falls
Siobhan Griffin, Raindance Farm, Schevenus
Irene Hurst, Locke
Les and Marge Miller, Richfield Springs
Vaughn and Sue Sherman, Dryden
Benjamin and Katherine Whitemore, Dead End Farm, Candor
Nick and Erica Wood, Woodhaven Jersey, Dundee
Robert and Rachel Yoder, Morrisville
Ohio
Dave Colvin, Creston
Steve and Pat Gamby, Mt. Victory
Elmer Graber, Millersburg
Simeon and Laura Kanagy, Sunset Meadows, Shreve
Mark and Geneva Miller, Millersburg
Leroy and Rose Meyer, Ft. Loramie
Jerry L. and Mary Miller, Elm Grove Acres, Fredricksburg
Amos Jr. and Nora Nolt, Shiloh
Ron Pohl, Coldwater
Paul and Carol Schmitmeyer, Versailles
Mark and Linda Weaver, Dundee
Raymond Yoder, Jr., Dundee
Joseph and Martha Yoder, Butler
Oregon
Thomas and Diana Brown, Myrtle Point
Devin and Elena Johnston, Spring Valley Farms, Tillamook
Ilene Knight, Bennett’s Acres, Boring
Gary and Connie Moore, Boring
Richard and Jill Smith, Hermiston
Pennsylvania
Henry and Emma Beiler, Spring Mills
Todd Swartz, Broad Acres, East Waterford
James and Janet Byers, Mercersburg
Clellen and Rhoda Leh, Towanda
Wayne and Esther Weaver, Gray Stone Farm, Loysville
Bobbie and Harvey Wood, Mansfield
Vermont
Alice and Laurance Allen, Wells River
Scott and Randy Bidwell, Morrisville
Stephen and Amelia Bothfeld, Fieldstone Organic Farm, Cabot
Tom and Bonnie Boutin, Newport Center
Dave and Elaine Callan, Mountain View Farm, Fairfield
Morgan and Jennifer Churchill, Fairfield
Leon and Linda Corse, The Corse Farm Dairy, LLC, Whitingham
Allen and Sandra Cutting, Irasburg
Andrew and Kathy De La Bruere, Derby
Joseph and Emily Donegan, Charlotte
Mike and Barbara Eastman, Addison
Earl, Susan and David Fournier, Swanton
Neil Fromm and Lenore Beers, Irasburg
Bob Grenon, North Troy
Roger and Patricia Le Blanc, Hazen Monument Farm, East Hardwick
Tim Maikshilo and Kristen Dellert, Coventry Valley Farm, Coventry
Mike and Teresa Menard, Fairfield
Ben Moulton and Amanda Taylor, Knox Ridge Holsteins, Troy
W. Silas Myrick, Bridport
Marcel and Gaetane Patenaude, Maple Cedar View, Derby Line
Meyer Family, North Hardwick Dairy, Hardwick
Mike and Carol Pettis, Fair Haven
Warren Rankin, Top Rankin’ Farm, East Johnson
Karl and Anita Sjolander, St. Johnsbury
Paul and Kristine Stecker, Cabot
Tyler Webb, Enosburg Falls
Cortni and Alicia Whitehead, Fairfield
Washington
Walter and Irene Abplanalp, Ethel
Jim and Janie Austin, Austin Farms, Oakville
Gerald and Delores Bishop, Bishop Dairy, Chimacum
Gary and Susan Burkhalter, Grays River Holsteins, Rosburg
Matt and Robin Eldridge, Everson
Ross McMahan, Randle
Randy and Kimberly Peterson, North Fork Dairy, Arlington
Allen and Cheryl Voortman, Pride and Joy Dairy, Granger
Andy and Linda Styger, Chehalis
Dean Wesen, Wesen Organic Dairy, LLC, Bow
Wisconsin
Daniel and Darlene Coehoorn, Rosendale
Leonard DeFere, DeFere Family Dairy, Sturgeon Bay
Robert and Jeann Farrar, La Farge
Jim and Tammy Fahey, Edgar
Marianne Hermann, Hixton
Rich and Ila Holman, Breezy Hills Farm of Baldwin, Baldwin
Martin and Wilma Hoover, Colby
Kevin and Mary Jahnke, Jahnke Family Farm, Lancaster
Ernerst L’Heureux, Fairview Farm, Iron River
John and Anna Mast, Boyd
William Morren and Patricia Laskowski, Hillsboro
Mike and Julie Petherbridge, Petherbridge Family Farm, Dresser
William Bogdonovich and Maria Stockbrand, Sunny Valley Farm, Willard
Robert, Jeanette and Caleb Winkel, Winkel Farms, Waupun
—From Organic Valley news release
